Shalane Flanagan Sets AR for 5,000 meters, by Larry Eder

Shalane Flanagan set the distance world on fire here in 2006, when she took Meseret Defar to the last fifty meters, setting an AR in 3,000 meters and finishing second. Until then, Flanagan was good, but, perhaps way too fragile.
Not so, any more. Coming home from five weeks of high altitude training in Mexico with famed marathoner German Silva, Shalane Flanagan took over from pace setters after 2k in 5:54, hitting 3k in 8:55 and 4k in 11:54.17. On her shoulder the entire way was Ethiopian Senthayehu Ejigu, who did not go for the lead until the last fifty meters! The race was so close, while Ejigu got the win, Shalane Flanagan had the same time-14.47.52, a new American record by over twenty seconds.

Photo courtesy of Photorun.net.
Look at that picture! How would you feel, after churning out your guts for 4900 meters, it call came down to a final sprint! Flanagan looked great the entire time, and this shows us just what she is capable of this coming year. With athletes like Goucher, Flanagan, Gallo and some of our other leading women, it is no wonder US distance hopes are looking better!
And this race was going on as Hooker was clearing 6.06 meters and the men were lining up for the mile!
More to come on the analysis of the Reebok Boston Indoor!
For more on the meet, http://www.BostonIndoorGames.com
For more on the sport, http://www.american-trackandfield.com